Eastern Conference Championship Series Preview

CALGARY, AB – The Eastern Conference Championship Series opens Friday as the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Calgary Hitmen continue their quest to become the 49th WHL Champions and earn a spot at the 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Quebec City, QC.The WHL Regular Season Champion Brandon Wheat Kings advance to the Eastern Conference Championship Series for the first time since 2010 after defeating the Regina Pats in a five-game series in Round 2.

The Wheat Kings now face the Calgary Hitmen, who defeated the Medicine Hat Tigers in five games in their Round 2 match-up. Here’s a look at the Eastern Conference Championship Series: BRANDON WHEAT KINGS vs CALGARY HITMEN

The Brandon Wheat Kings and Calgary Hitmen meet in the Eastern Conference Championship Series for the fourth time in WHL Playoff history. The Hitmen prevailed in the 2009 and 2010 Eastern Conference Championship Series against the Wheat Kings, whileBrandon took the Conference title in 1998. The two Clubs last met in Round 1 of the 2012 WHL Playoffs when Brandon advanced in five games. In total, the Wheat Kings and Hitmenhave met in the post-season on six occasions and have each posted three series victories.The Hitmen and Wheat Kings met four times during the regular season as Brandon claimed three of four.

The Brandon Wheat Kings advanced to the Eastern Conference Championship Series after eliminating the defending MasterCard Memorial Cup Champion Edmonton Oil Kings followed by the Regina Pats, each were five-game series. Offensively, Tim McGauley and Rihards Bukarts are amongst 10 different Wheat Kings that have notched two goals or more thus far in the 2015 WHL Playoffs. McGauley has continued a strong year that saw him record 105 points (42g-63a) during the regular season, third-best in the WHL. Defensively, Ivan Provorov and Eric Roy lead a blue line that has only given up 21 goals in 10 post-season games entering this series. Special teams has played a key role for the Wheat Kings as they have converted on 28.2% of their power play opportunities and have killed 85.0% of their penalties.Brandon has embraced playoff hockey as they own a record of 5-1-0-0 in one-goal contests through their first 10 games of the 2015 WHL Playoffs. Goaltender Jordan Papirny has been terrific for the Wheat Kings, with a 1.98 goals against average and a .938 save percentage, and has started each game so far.

The Calgary Hitmen return to the Eastern Conference Championship Series for the first time since 2013 after edging out the Kootenay ICE in a tough seven-games series before defeating the Medicine Hat Tigers in five games. The Hitmen enter the series as the highest scoring Club in the 2015 WHL Playoffs with a total of 49 goals scored. Hitmen forward Adam Tambellini leads the League with 21 (9g-12a) post-season points while Travis Sanheim leads all WHL defenceman with 15 points (5g-10a). The power play has clicked so far for the Hitmen as their 13 power play goals lead all Clubs. Goaltenders Mack Shields and Brendan Burke have shared the crease this post-season, with Shields receiving the nod of late. Shields owns a 6-1-1 record in nine appearances so far to go along with a 2.33 goals against average and a .927 save percentage.

Series Schedule(Game 6 to be announced in the coming days)

Date

Game

Away

Home

Time

Friday, April 24

1

Calgary

@

Brandon

7:30pm CDT

Saturday, April 25

2

Calgary

@

Brandon

7:30pm CDT

Tuesday, April 28

3

Brandon

@

Calgary

7:00pm MDT

Wednesday, April 29

4

Brandon

@

Calgary

7:00pm MDT

Friday, May 1

5*

Calgary

@

Brandon

7:30pm CDT

TBD

6*

Brandon

@

Calgary

TBD

Tuesday, May 5

7*

Calgary

@

Brandon

7:00pm CDT

*If necessary

Current NHL Prospects

Brandon Wheat Kings

Player

Position

YOB

NHL Club

Jayce Hawryluk

C

1996

Florida Panthers

Peter Quenneville

RW

1994

Columbus Blue Jackets

John Quenneville

C

1996

New Jersey Devils

Morgan Klimchuk

LW

1995

Calgary Flames

Reid Duke

C

1996

Minnesota Wild

Eric Roy

D

1994

Calgary Flames

Calgary Hitmen

Player

Position

YOB

NHL Club

Kenton Helgesen

LW

1994

Anaheim Ducks

Chase Lang

RW

1996

Minnesota Wild

Jake Virtanen

RW

1996

Vancouver Canucks

Adam Tambellini

C

1994

New York Rangers

Radel Fazleev

LW

1996

Philadelphia Flyers

Keegan Kanzig

D

1995

Calgary Flames

Ben Thomas

D

1996

Tampa Bay Lightning

Travis Sanheim

D

1996

Philadelphia Flyers

Brendan Burke

G

1995

Arizona Coyotes

2015 NHL Draft Prospects

Brandon Wheat Kings

Player

Position

YOB

NHL CSS Final Ranking

Ivan Provorov

D

1997

7 (NA Skaters)

Ryan Pilon

D

1996

24 (NA Skaters)

Jordan Papirny

G

1996

28 (NA Goalies)

Tim McGauley

C

1995

165 (NA Skaters)

Calgary Hitmen

Player

Position

YOB

NHL CSS Final Ranking

Pavel Karnaukhov

C

1997

118 (NA Skaters)

Micheal Zipp

D

1996

189 (NA Skaters)

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